Authors Note: Just to add that I am going to show a different side to Cal in these next chapters, and also I should say that there is an absence of Rose in this story. I have just got it that Cal is travelling with Mr Lovejoy, and that there is no Rose. Enjoy, Robyn x
While I was dreading our trip on Titanic, mostly because of Caledon Hockley, Freddie was so excited, he was almost back to his old self. He ran about the place, whenever out of earshot of Mr Lovejoy, and made friends with the gardener, a man named Smith. Not Mr Smith. Just Smith. And to us, it was enough of a name, it suited him perfectly, and we didn't question him about it.
Freddie would spend the best part of the day with Smith, helping him in the garden, while I was left to do the rest of the chores inside the house. Our trip was drawing ever-closer and Mr Lovejoy kept us busy helping him and Cal with their preparations. And weren't there a lot of preparations to do! It seemed that Cal and Mr Lovejoy were bringing half their home on the Titanic with them.
One sunny afternoon, a few days before we were due to leave I found myself alone in the bedroom that me and Freddie shared; a large, airy room, with two single beds and a small closet. It wasn't much, but it was comfortable. I walked to the window, which overlooked the garden, and smiled to myself as I saw Freddie helping Smith pull out some weeds.
A sudden noise made me whip round. There, in the doorway, was Cal. I gasped, and stuttered, "Mr Hockley, sir, I am so sorry, I am just getting back to the chores, I just came to fetch a, a, um..." I trailed off.
Cal smiled. But it was not one of his normal, gut churning, sly smiles that made you want to run away as fast as possible, but a different smile, almost filled with warmth.
"You don't need to report to me, Scarlett; you've been doing a great job around here" he said "I actually came to find you, to talk to you"
"Talk to me?" I said, astonished. Cal walked to the bed, and sat down on the edge.
"Yes, I realised these past few weeks haven't been easy for you, and I know I have been partly to blame"
Mostly to blame, I thought to myself, but decided not to voice this.
"I wanted to apologise, and hope that this doesn't affect our trip next week, we shall be seeing a lot of each other, and I don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable." I could feel Cal looking at me, but I pointedly at the door.
"Of course not, sir" I appreciate what you have said, I am sorry to have been an inconvenience to you"
"Not at all, I believe it to be my fault" said Cal, standing up.
"Good day, Mr Hockley" I said, and Cal took the hint to leave. Just as he was in the doorway, he turned, and hurriedly said, "You know, when it is just us, you can call me Cal" he then grinned, actually grinned, and then darted away. I was stood staring in disbelief at the doorway, blushing hotly, even though I was alone, call him Cal? What made him think I would want to refer to him as Cal? Who did he think he was? Who did he think I was? Some girl that was instantly going to fall head over heels over him? I didn't think so.
But, as I dusted the long shelves of books in the study that evening, Cal's grinning face kept swimming in front of me...
The day of our voyage dawned bright and sunny. I was awake at the crack of dawn, getting myself and Freddie ready. I dressed us both in our uniforms; they were clean and pressed ready for the Titanic. Our shoes were shiny, and I combed both of our hair. When I studied my face in the glass, I was worried about my face. The Titanic first class area would be full of beautiful women, like the ones in the portraits Mr Lovejoy had dotted around the house. I sighed, what did it matter? I was only a servant.
I spent several hours helping to pack belongings into the carriages, and at last we were ready to go. I was just carrying an empty box back into the house, when I tripped, but felt someone grab my arm, and keep me up. I was surprised to see Cal, dressed in his best, holding me up.
"You'd better watch yourself, Miss Monty, you could hurt yourself" Miss Monty? What was Cal playing at? I was his servant, not an equal! I hurried inside, and then did one last sweep of the bedroom, before heading into a carriage with Freddie, and the plump cook, Ann, and other members of staff I knew not by name.
With one last look at the house I had called home for a matter of weeks, we were off on what would be our biggest adventure yet.